MOney is self-care
I’ve shared my thoughts and process on self-love, boundaries, rest, intention, sovereignty, and choosing myself in so many different ways over the years. But something I realized recently is that I’ve rarely spoken directly about money, even though money and the lack there of has quietly shaped my entire life.
And maybe that’s because for a long time, money felt challenging for me. Emotional. Slow to obtain. Something I had to grind for and handle with care, despite the circumstances. Lately, that relationship is changing.
What I’m learning and actively practicing, is that being intentional with my finances isn’t about becoming rigid or restrictive. It’s about creating safety and stability. It’s about calming my nervous system. It’s about feeling worthy of having it. For me, money and self-care have become deeply connected.
When my finances feel scattered, I feel scattered. When I’m avoiding the reality of my financial choices, I’m usually avoiding something emotional too. And when I slow down, get honest, and create simple budgets, my body softens. That’s the part of the “soft life” people don’t always talk about.
The soft life isn’t just looking like your doing well. It’s also structure. It’s boundaries. It’s choosing sustainability over impulse. It’s making decisions today that secure tomorrow’s lifestyle.
I don’t want my life to look good but feel unstable. I want it to feel easy, abundant, and intentional. That’s why saving, even in the smallest ways, has become an act of self-love for me. Not because I’m depriving myself, but because I’m taking care of myself in a different way. Being intentional with money is me affirming that I trust myself and I value peace of mind more than instant gratification.
This phase of my life isn’t about shame. It’s not about punishing my past choices or trying to catch up. It’s a soft reset. A recognition of where I now place value and an ending of repeated cycles. This is a reminder that we’re allowed to start where we are, with what we have, and move forward with care. Because growth doesn’t always announce itself loudly. Sometimes it looks like responsibility. Sometimes it looks like choosing differently. Sometimes it looks like finally letting money be part of your self-care practice.
If you’re feeling called to stand ten toes down with your finances in this season, it doesn’t have to be extreme. It can start quietly as long as it starts.
For me, that looked like choosing one simple saving pattern and committing to consistency instead of intensity. Sometimes it’s saving the same small amount each week. Other times it’s redirecting money I was about to spend out of habit. Most times, it’s just sitting with my budget and creating a plan. The goal is to build a system and trust yourself with money. One intentional decision at a time.
If you’re unsure where to begin, start here:
Choose one small action you can repeat without resistance.
Pay attention to how your body feels when you save, spend, or poorly plan.
Let consistency be your success metric, not the amount.
A lot can change in 365 days when you live with intention and managing my finances with care feels like one of the most self-loving decisions I can make this year.